Thai bid for UN rights seat fails

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UNHRC SEAT
Thai bid for UN rights seat fails
The Nation

Constructive role to continue; focus on campaign for place in UNSC

BANGKOK: -- Thailand respects the decision of UN members who voted to fill vacant seats in the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) after it failed to gain enough votes to win a seat.

Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs Sihasak Phuangketkeow said it was a pity Thailand was not elected to one of four vacant seats in the rights council. "However, applying for a seat means competition. We lost the competition but the support we obtained accounted for about 70-80 per cent of UN members, meaning many countries still trust and believe in us."

Although Thailand was not elected to the UN rights council, it would continue to place importance in the rights council and maintain a constructive role, he said.

Thailand was defeated in the UN General Assembly's election for 15 new members of the 47-member Council on Tuesday. With only four Asian seats available, Qatar edged out Thailand with 142 votes compared to Bangkok's 136. India got the most votes with 162, Indonesia had 152, and Bangladesh 149. The new members will serve a three-year term starting on January 1, 2015.

India and Indonesia, current members of the UNHRC, won their bids for re-election. The UN has 193 member states.

Thailand won the rights council seat for the first time in 2010-2013 and was represented by Sihasak, then ambassador and permanent representative of Thailand to the UN Office in Geneva. He was also voted the council's president.

Meanwhile, Foreign Ministry spokesman Sek Wannamethee said Thailand respected the decision and accepted the results of the voting in the matter. "Thailand accepts the result, respects the decision of the members and congratulates all new members of the UNHRC," he said.

This defeat will not jeopardise Thailand's foreign policy and its role in the international community. He said Bangkok would continue its campaign to get a seat as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council in 2017-2018, he said.

The campaign to gain a seat in the UN rights body took place while Thailand was undergoing a military coup. The junta government was strongly criticised for its human rights practices and suppression of democracy.

Sek said, "We hope the UN members did not link their decisions to the political situation in Thailand. We played constructive roles in promoting and protecting human rights while we were a member previously."

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Thai-bid-for-UN-rights-seat-fails-30246081.html


-- The Nation 2014-10-23

[binjalin]

"Thailand respected the decision and accepted the results of the voting in the matter"

what a relief! so that's ok then...

[aTomsLife]

"We hope the UN members did not link their decisions to the political situation in Thailand."

I should hope they did. What right does a country squashing all political dissent have on the Human Rights Council?

[noitom]

This is a big surprise. Thailand is the bastion of human rights and freedoms.

[Somtamnication]

Indonesia, a country with a worse human rights record than Thailand (remember East Timor?), won over Thailand. What a loss of face that was!!

[englishoak]

Indonesia, a country with a worse human rights record than Thailand (remember East Timor?), won over Thailand. What a loss of face that was!!

Take that view and there wouldnt be anyone eligible.

Its not about past times its about the current.

Example is Indonesia has moved in the right direction since those times, of all the 5 options only Thailand has continued to get significantly worse.

Right decision.

[thesetat2013]

Why did Thailand think they could win enough votes to get a seat at the Human Rights commision when Thailand is currently under severe scrutiny for violating the very things that the UNHRC is sworn to protect?

[selftaopath]

Indonesia, a country with a worse human rights record than Thailand (remember East Timor?), won over Thailand. What a loss of face that was!!

Take that view and there wouldnt be anyone eligible.

Its not about past times its about the current.

Example is Indonesia has moved in the right direction since those times, of all the 5 options only Thailand has continued to get significantly worse.

Right decision.

And certainly something Thais have little respect for or knowledge about is: COMPETITION.

And many would suggest lack of it in Lack of Sanctions is for "good" reason.

[whybother]

Indonesia, a country with a worse human rights record than Thailand (remember East Timor?), won over Thailand. What a loss of face that was!!

Take that view and there wouldnt be anyone eligible.

Its not about past times its about the current.

Example is Indonesia has moved in the right direction since those times, of all the 5 options only Thailand has continued to get significantly worse.

Right decision.

What about Qatar's current record?

[Snig27]

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Indonesia, a country with a worse human rights record than Thailand (remember East Timor?), won over Thailand. What a loss of face that was!! alt=giggle.gif>

Take that view and there wouldnt be anyone eligible.

Its not about past times its about the current.

Example is Indonesia has moved in the right direction since those times, of all the 5 options only Thailand has continued to get significantly worse.

Right decision.

What about Qatar's current record?

Pretty dreadful, but obviously the wider world regards Thailand as even further down the scale of rights. And yes Khun Sek, the coup has everything to do with it.

[whybother]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

What about Qatar's current record?

Pretty dreadful, but obviously the wider world regards Thailand as even further down the scale of rights. And yes Khun Sek, the coup has everything to do with it.

The "wider world" also thinks that Qatar is a good place for a Football World Cup. I doubt that this decision was made only about "rights".

[alantheembalmer]

Well, it could have been worse. North Korea might have had a punt just to see how many votes they would get.

[yellowboat]

Surprised they even had the cheek to try. Just shows the level of delusion.

[Franky Bear]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

What about Qatar's current record?

Pretty dreadful, but obviously the wider world regards Thailand as even further down the scale of rights. And yes Khun Sek, the coup has everything to do with it.

The "wider world" also thinks that Qatar is a good place for a Football World Cup. I doubt that this decision was made only about "rights".

I think you'll find the wider world doesn't

[Lannig]

I quite enjoy this slap on the wrist received by El Leader Maximo (and kind of loss of face too) although I have no illusion on the fact that being elected is to be considered as an endorsment of human rights respect.

After all, Lybia was voted in in 2011... what kind of credibility does it leave to the institution?

It's all about not being taken for complete idiots, I guess. Voting in a country where power was just seized by a coup and that still is under martial law would really make them look like clowns.

Edited October 23, 2014 by Lannig

[pisico]

Sek said, "We hope the UN members did not link their decisions to the political situation in Thailand. We played constructive roles in promoting and protecting human rights while we were a member previously."

The powers that be should check on the meaning of the word DENIAL...It is not a river in Africa.

[Tatsujin]

Indonesia, a country with a worse human rights record than Thailand (remember East Timor?), won over Thailand. What a loss of face that was!!

Take that view and there wouldnt be anyone eligible.

Its not about past times its about the current.

Example is Indonesia has moved in the right direction since those times, of all the 5 options only Thailand has continued to get significantly worse.

Right decision.

What about Qatar's current record?

Money talks.

[loongdavid]

"...Qatar... Indonesia... India... Bangladesh..."

To lose to this sort of competition means something is drastically wrong with the member states of the United Nations (UN). Human rights (in one form or another) is a farce in all of the aforementioned countries. The UN has become nothing but a stage where the third world and developing countries can serve it up to the west, the very countries that have, and still do, support their development. Is Thailand too introspective and arrogant to admit it is highly embarrassed and has suffered a huge loss of face given this decision.

[loongdavid]

"Example is Indonesia has moved in the right direction since those times, of all the 5 options only Thailand has continued to get significantly worse".

I doubt if the enslaved peoples of West Papua would agree with you.

[MediaWatcher]

aTomsLife, on 23 Oct 2014 - 07:01, said:

"We hope the UN members did not link their decisions to the political situation in Thailand."

I should hope they did. What right does a country squashing all political dissent have on the Human Rights Council?

And let's not forget the massive people smuggling.

[MobileContent]

Indonesia, a country with a worse human rights record than Thailand (remember East Timor?), won over Thailand. What a loss of face that was!!

India and Indonesia are some of the largest democracies in the world. Sure they did mistakes in the past but looking at Indonesia I have to say this country really changed over the past 10 years.

[MediaWatcher]

Somtamnication, on 23 Oct 2014 - 07:13, said:

Indonesia, a country with a worse human rights record than Thailand (remember East Timor?), won over Thailand. What a loss of face that was!!

Oh please, just how far back in history do you need to go...I'm sure you could find something a little more recent. The UN position only goes for 3 years, not back to prior 1999.

[StefanBBK]

It would be interesting to learn who voted against Thailand.

[Prbkk]

A spinmeister in action: they got 70-80% of the vote but didn't win.

[MediaWatcher]

whybother, on 23 Oct 2014 - 08:58, said:

Snig27, on 23 Oct 2014 - 08:54, said:

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

whybother, on 23 Oct 2014 - 08:48, said:

What about Qatar's current record?

Pretty dreadful, but obviously the wider world regards Thailand as even further down the scale of rights. And yes Khun Sek, the coup has everything to do with it.

The "wider world" also thinks that Qatar is a good place for a Football World Cup. I doubt that this decision was made only about "rights".

It WAS'NT the "wider world" that voted for Qatar, it was some powder puff Football Association, FIFA, that has been entrench in scandal and corruption for a number of years..

[TTom911]

Indonesia, a country with a worse human rights record than Thailand (remember East Timor?), won over Thailand. What a loss of face that was!!

Take that view and there wouldnt be anyone eligible.

Its not about past times its about the current.

Example is Indonesia has moved in the right direction since those times, of all the 5 options only Thailand has continued to get significantly worse.

Right decision.

What about Qatar's current record?

it's not testimony to the real "quality" of human rights in these other countries, but is is a clear vote on how FAR DOWN THE LIST Thailand is seen internationally in that respect

Just translate that vote as in "TH - the worst of the bad"

Edited October 23, 2014 by TTom911

[mikiea]

all votes cast for other than thailand were a vote "against" :-)

[h90]

Well, it could have been worse. North Korea might have had a punt just to see how many votes they would get.

Would be interesting if they would have put Israel and Saudi Arabia.....

[Pii Kate]

You know that saying, "doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results"....insanity. Why isn't this regime taking the opportunity to change in order to earn that seat? It's a privilege, not a right. Bravo to the UN and their decision.

[klauskunkel]

"However, applying for a seat means competition. We lost the competition but the support we obtained accounted for about 70-80 per cent of UN members, meaning many countries still trust and believe in us."

...down from how many countries in the period 2010-2013, when Thailand did win a seat?